BIG LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

JANUARY 25, 2024

COMBINED QUARTERLY BOARD & GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MINUTES

The meeting was called to order by President Kyle Hoffman at 6:02 p.m. at the Big Lake Community Church. A quorum was present.

Officers present:

Kyle Hoffman, President

Lloyd Watkinson, Vice-President

Melba Hall, Treasurer/Historian

Pattie Pleas, Secretary

Board members present:

Trudi Davis, Newsletter/Webmaster

Andrea Xaver, NOVEMBER 17, *(2022) PRO TEM

David Granstrom, NOVEMBER 17, *(2022) PRO TEM

• Melba Hall gave the Treasurer’s report.

• The minutes of the October 26, 2023, meeting were read by Pattie Pleas, and were moved, seconded, and approved by the Board.

• Nominations were made for the open positions of secretary and a board member to be voted on at the July 2024 Annual Business meeting. Liz Stewart was nominated by Pattie Pleas to be on the board and was seconded by David Granstrom. Liz Stewart was also nominated for Pattie’s position as Secretary and later in the general quarterly meeting accepted both of her nominations. Nominations for officers and board members will remain open through the April quarterly meeting.

• The Board meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM.

General Membership Quarterly Meeting was called to order by President Kyle Hoffman at 7:00 PM.

• Calendar Committee Chairman Andrea Xaver gave a report on the 2025 calendar committee. A decision was made to keep the calendars focused on the history of the communities making up the Big Lake Valley, Baker Heights, Big Rock, Big Lake,

Walker Valley, Montborne, Ehrlich, Finn Settlement, McMurray, and Cavanaugh.

The majority of those attending the meeting prefer using historical photos – along with any relevant before and after pictures. The cost for the 2025 calendar will remain at $20 each. Pattie Pleas and David Granstrom will work with Andrea Xaver on the 2025 calendar committee. LaRita Humble volunteered to find photos of the Lake Cavanaugh community to consider.

• David Granstrom, Andrea Xaver, Phil Zimmerman and Trudi Davis are working as a team to get a replacement sign at the old townsite on Gary Johnson’s property.

• Trudi Davis discussed the August 2024 biennial display. Jim Davis has been offered some free soundboards to make more display panels if needed. It was decided that 4 or 5 doubles should be sufficient. Trudi stated that they will make as many as is possible with the donated soundboard and with what materials are still at hand. Any additional costs will be billed to the BLHS.

• The BLHS Biennial Exhibit will be held at the BLVFD’s community room on August 10th and 11th. There was discussion to hold a community picnic following the display on Sunday. Attendees will need to bring their own chairs and a sack or box lunch.

• Kyle Hoffman volunteered to organize a display of vintage tractors for Exhibit.

• It was discussed and proposed that the society go ahead and begin collecting stories and quips for a BLHS self- published book of memories from the Big Lake Valley. It was decided that each board member will bring a story or quips of a memory for inclusion into the book to our April meeting. A question arose regarding the book was whether there were ever any famous or notable people in the Valley. Some mentioned Charles Nordstrom, but no other person was mentioned.

• At the invitation of Mick Steinman, we will hold our next general quarterly meeting, April 25, 2024, at the Cavanaugh Community Center, 35022 S Shore Drive, at 7:00 pm.

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

BLHS General Membership Meeting Agenda

April 27, 2023, 7:00 PM Big Lake Community Church

Mission:

A. The Society with all its resources shall work to preserve the character and the natural

environment of the Big Lake Community.

B. The Society will solicit, collect, preserve and restore such materials, equipment and

memorabilia relating to the history of the area.

C. The Society will work with the community, if appropriate, to enhance, and preserve its

unique, cultural, historic and environmental character.

D. The Society shall encourage the development of the Big Lake Biennial presentation of

Historical Photos and Artifacts.

Meeting goals:

A. To discuss going forward with the preservation and digitizing of society’s photos and documents.

B. Create agenda and speakers for the July 27, 2023, Third Quarter Meeting.

1. Welcome/ Introductions

2. Reports

• Approval of January 26, 2023, Minutes & Financial Report (copies available)

• Calendar Report: Andrea Xaver

• Moving forward with the preservation and digitizing of photos and documents.

• Next issue of the newsletter

3. Pulse—

• Review what has been accomplished

• Set the goals and agenda for July 27 Third Quarter Meeting of 2023.

4. Connection— Community sharing: Guest speaker, Mick Steinman of Lake Cavanaugh

5. Adjournment

The meeting will be held at the Big Lake Community Church

Mission:

A.    The Society with all its resources shall work to preserve the character, and the natural environment of the Big Lake Community.

B.    The Society will solicit, collect, preserve and restore such materials, equipment and memorabilia relating to the history of the area.

C.     The Society will work with the community, if appropriate, to enhance, and preserve its unique, cultural, historic and environmental character.

D.    The Society shall encourage the development of the Big Lake Biennial presentation of Historical Photos and Artifacts. 

Meeting goals:

A.    To review and assess the success of the 2022 BLHS Biennial Exhibit.

B.    To discuss going forward with the preserving and archiving the society’s artifacts and photos.

C.     Create agenda and speakers for the January 26, 2023 Quarterly Meeting.

1. Welcome/ Introductions

2. Reports

·      July 28, 2022 Minutes

·      Financial Report

4. Deliberation topics –

·      What’s next? Who, What, Where, When, and How? Moving forward with the preservation and archiving of our society’s artifacts and photos

·      Next issue of the newsletter

5. Pulse—

·      Review what has been accomplished

·      Set the goals and agenda for the January 26, 2023 Quarterly Meeting.

6. Adjournment

7. Connection—(sharing and storytelling time)

Board Meeting Agenda:

Welcome

Review the minutes of the last meeting

Treasurers report

Calendar Committee report

Report from Editor Davis--online inquiries and activity

2022 BLHS Biennial Exhibit—Status

Election of Officers—New Officers are: Kyle Hoffman, President; Lloyd Watkinson, Vice President; Pattie Hanstad Pleas, Secretary; Melba Hall, Treasurer/Historian

Other

Ajourn

Final planning and organizing responsibilities for the exhibit.

Location: Big Lake Community Church

Business Agenda: Planning for the 2022 Biennial Exhibit. Calling all HISTORY BUFFS—those who are inquisitive, interested in exploring and probing, those who wish to protect, preserve and conserve; the BLHS is recruiting those willing and able to donate their time to help the BLHS prepare for their 2022 Biennial Exhibit.

WELCOME!

BLHS Annual Business Meeting—CANCELLED due to COVID 19 restrictions

7:00 PM

Big Lake Community Church

WELCOME!

CANCELLED DUE TO COVID 19 PANDEMIC

STAY AT HOME—BE HEALTHY, BE SAFE!

To the BLHS April Quarterly Meeting

New Meeting Time: 7:00 PM

Big Lake Community Church

• The BLHS Board will evaluate month to month regarding a make-up meeting and the July annual membership meeting.

• The Board will also determine by June 1 whether to move forward with our BLHS Biennial Exhibit scheduled for August 8 & 9

Welcome!

To the BLHS 2020 Quarterly Meeting

6:00 PM

Big Lake Community Church

Discussion will include organizing the 2020 BLHS Exhibit, August 8th and 9th, as well as filling open positions on the board.

Ron Reinard will be our guest at the this month’s meeting, sharing information, as well as questions. His Grandfather Reinard built an iconic house in Walker Valley in 1907. His son Frank, lived in the house many years and built a detailed scale model of a futuristic city known as “Space City”. It attracted many curiosity seekers.

Calling all HISTORY BUFFS—those who are inquisitive, those interested in exploring and probing, those who wish to protect, preserve and conserve. The BLHS is recruiting both members and non-members interested in local history, especially Big Lake and the surrounding communities. You are encouraged to join an open discussion Thursday, October 24, 2019 at 6:00 PM in the Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene. Normal formalities will be abandoned for this meeting so that we can have a roundtable discussion around the subject:  WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Please plan to attend this vitally important meeting so your thoughts are included in the discussion. The formal business meeting will be postponed until January 23, 2020.

Where: Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene

Business Agenda: Election of Officers and New Board Members; acceptance of revised bylaws.

Social Agenda (6:30): Dale Thompson will share stories of his childhood growing up in the Baker Heights/Big Rock area.

Big Lake Historical Society Annual Business Meeting

Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene

Join us Thursday July 26 at 6:00 PM for the annual business meeting including the election of officers and board members. Our guest speaker is David Granstrom, he will be sharing early stories of life in Finn Settlement. Following Dave's presentation there will be a time of discussion and sharing over coffee and cookies.

At 5:30 before the business meeting is called to order, those who are willing and able to help with the set-up of the display for the August exhibit will meet at the church to organize and plan.

Big Lake Historical Society met Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM and a short business meeting was held, with discussion centering on the date and location of the biennial display. 

The business meeting was followed by a presentation by Jim Farmer, formerly of Montborne. Jim shared his research into the life of Nelson Bennett, best known for building the railroad tunnel through Stampede Pass. Bennett, next to Mortimer Cook, was most responsible for opening up Sedro-Woolley to settlement and commerce with the construction of the Fairhaven and Southern Railroad.

Jim also read a poem he had written of his memories of sounds while growing up at Montborne.  

Washboard Memory

             Walker Valley Farms

             Garden, Orchard, Chickens

            Couple cows for milk

             Extra for neighbors four-bits a gallon

            Thick cream on top.

            Up and down the hill each morning

            The Darigold truck rattled.

            Empty cans for full at the stoops

            Evening and morning milk for the creamery.

            Gravity, chains, washboards, and milk cans

            It’s a symphony from Grandmother’s yard.

Jim Farmer

April 2018

ANNOUNCING

BIG LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S 

Quarterly Meeting

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene

6:00 PM. The meeting will be called to order and a short business meeting will convene and include reports and minutes. Also, the nomination of Dyrk Meyers to the board, and discussion of time and place for a special board meeting to consider tabled items from October meeting. 

6:30 PM. The evening’s speaker is Deanna Ammons, Clear Lake and Day Creek historian, followed by open conversations about local history. Coffee and cookies will be served. 

This is an open invitation to please join us in support of the Big Lake Historical Society.

For more information contact Trudi Davis at biglakehistoricalsociety@gmail.com

Arcadia Publishing releases Images of America--The Big Lake Valley. Soon to be announced date and location of book signing and book promotion.

Join us and help promote our new book, plan the 2017 Calendar, and prepare for the biennial Big Lake History Exhibit in August. We meet at the Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene at DaLacy Lane and SR 9.

Please join us for our quarterly meeting held on Thursday, January 21 from 7:00PM to 8:30PM at the Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene.

Point of discussion: An update from Arcadia on the progress of editing and publishing of the society's new book Images of America-The Big Lake Valley.